Supermodel

Dentist
I went to the dentist today. For me, going to the dentist is like what supermodels must feel like during a photoshoot. It's non-stop praise about my gums, my homecare, the state of my teeth, etc. It happens every time. Both the dentist and the cleaner made separate jokes about scheduling me all day everyday so I can just be their one patient. They mean it, of this I'm sure. I've decided that I should just schedule an appointment with the dentist whenever I'm feeling down. It's awesome.

Mom's (most likely) townhome
Tomorrow is the inspection for the townhome on which my mom has put an offer. It'll be interesting to see the space without stuff in it. The previous owners* have moved out, so all of their stuff will be gone. Other than the inspection, we'll also measure all of the rooms to get an idea of what Mom will put where. All fun stuff, of course,

The walls are all white right now, so we're planning to paint all the rooms after she closes, but before she moves in. Anyone here in PDX want to help out with picking colors or painting? :)

* Technically, they were renters, not owners. The townhome is held in a trust. Not sure of the correct wording to describe this. Basically, family friends of the deceased owner were living in it.

Avery and friends
Avery's been spending more time with Lily. It's nice to have a friend for casual playdates in the neighborhood. I also think the two of them, who are very alike and therefore can butt heads a bit, are learning to solve their differences on their own. Last time Lily came over for a playdate, I didn't see them the whole time. It looked like a hurricane had hit the upstairs, but I'll take a hurricane over bickering any day.

I babysat the G kids (with Mom's help - because she offered and I say don't offer if you don't want to help because I will take you up on it!) on Sunday morning while the G's went to brunch. The plan was that I'd then leave Avery there for the afternoon and evening since D and I had our date night on Sunday night. However, Avery was In A Mood when the G's got back. She snatched something from Nolan and wouldn't apologize. I said apologize or we go home. She chose to go home, which in turn upset Elise who was looking forward to a playdate with Avery. So that is how Elise came to spend the afternoon at our house playing with Avery and Nain. All kids who come to the house immediately ask where Nain is and if they can visit her. Man am I going to miss her when she moves out.

We haven't seen much of Henry or Josie lately, but this Thursday will rectify that. Yipee!

Movies
D and I saw both Magic Mike and Ted this weekend (one date night courtesy of Mom, the other of the Gs). Both movies are very funny. I enjoyed both thoroughly. Ted is raunchy and oh-so-wrong in spots, but that's what makes it hilarious. Magic Mike had slightly more of a plot than I was expecting, however, not so much that it takes itself more seriously than a male stripper movie ever should.

Spanish speaker
After RHG's comment regarding hosting a student to get a native speaker around us (versus an au pair we don't need), I did some investigation. I found a program that looks like it'll work, however, there are no students from Latin America or South America, so the student would come from Spain. I did research on Castilian Spanish versus Latin American Spanish. Basically, it's like the difference between American English and British English - same language, but different nuances.

I emailed the program, but haven't heard back from them yet. I'll call them in a week or so if there's still no response.

Spanish

Español
My interest in learning to speak Spanish is still high. As any reader of this blog knows, I'm a hot or cold kind of person. I'm either SUPER EXCITED! about something or I am simply not. My interest in things ebbs and flows. I have very few things I'm consistently into at all times. It's not a trait that I love about myself, but I must accept it because it's just how I am. I'm still motivated to learn and I feel like I'm progressing, at least in my understanding of what has been presented to me so far. I seriously doubt I could understand someone speaking to me in Spanish - even about what I've learned so far - without visual prompts. That said, I do feel like more is sinking in than has during any of my previous attempts to learn Spanish.

Avery is also very interested in learning Spanish. I have to figure out how we're going to make that happen. Suggestions anyone? We're not going to enroll her in a Spanish immersion school, so it has to be something else. Rosetta Stone works somewhat for her, but it's really designed for those who are old enough to read and understand the software is using social interactions to teach language. I'm not sure she'd comprehend the second part just yet.

One thing we have thought* about is getting a Spanish-speaking au pair with the hopes that having a native speaker live with us as a family will get us all moving on learning Spanish. This, of course, seems like overkill since we don't have need for an au pair from a childcare perspective. It would be cheaper to hire a tutor. However, whenever I ask people how they learned another language, almost all say you have to be immersed in the language for a period of time. Well, having someone in the house who speaks Spanish will immerse us a bit more than a tutor. Plus, being in Mexico for a week or two at a time will do the same. Maybe the combination of the two will get us to simple conversational Spanish? The other factor is that D simply doesn't have the time to commit to either a tutor or Rosetta Stone. When I bought our year-long subscription to Rosetta Stone, I figured we could all do it. However, it does take a lot of time to just get through the exercises, even if you're faster to comprehend that I am.

*thought about = one non-serious conversation

Avery activities
Avery seems to have enjoyed her camp this week. I thought it would have more circus-related activities in it, but it seems that the "Join the Circus!" aspect of the camp was a loose theme. Fortunately, Avery doesn't seem to care about that at all. She's had a good time everyday and eagerly runs to sign in each day.

This week, before the afternoon camp from 1-5, she did a 45 minute sports mania class. That was useless. The instructors were poor and it was disorganized. The class didn't cost that much, so I'm only upset about it because it was a logistical challenge to make that class happen, get Avery lunch in between, then get her to camp. I definitely would not have signed her up for it had I known how pathetic it was going to be.

Next week we have no classes or camps planned. It's Avery's one week off this summer! She does have kung fu, but that's only 1/2 hour one day.

Health and Fitness
While my interest in learning Spanish is high, my interest and motivation to Be Healthy is so very low. I've not been able to get back in a rhythm logistically or mentally since coming back from Mexico. The only reason I've been continuing with Crossfit is because I feel pressure to not look like a quitter. I do actually like Crossfit when I'm there, but before every class I try to think of reasons I shouldn't go. It's ridiculous.

I haven't walked in weeks. I have no desire to walk. I have no desire to workout. I have little desire to eat better. Sigh.